KLM hires for asset management business; Newmark adds joint head of business rates; Crown names chair

KLM Real Estate, a specialist retail and leisure agency that recently celebrated 35 years in business, has hired Nick Sewell to lead and grow its asset management business. He joins from Urbn Partners, a specialist town centre regeneration and development company, which he will continue to operate. Prior to that he spent five years as an executive director in CBRE's retail capital markets team and was head of ReShape Retail, liaising across the business to lead on the re-purposing of retail assets that were too large or no-longer fit for purpose. He also spent 10 years with NewRiver REIT as an executive director, joining at its initial public offering on the AIM market in 2009.

Newmark has appointed Emily Roberton as joint head of its UK business rates practice, responsible for strategy and business development. She joins Simon Green in leading the national platform for the firm that also does business in the United States, Canada and other countries around the world. Newmark said Roberton who will be based between London and the West Midlands, will focus on client performance and operational excellence across the national team of rating surveyors. She moves from BNP Paribas Real Estate, where she was senior director and national head of business rates, leading a 40-person team.

The Crown Estate, the reigning Monarch's property company, has confirmed Ric Lewis as the next chair of its board, having first been lined up as Sir Robin Budenberg's successor at the end of last year. Lewis will begin the role on 9 July, with Sir Robin moving on after circa nine years in the role. Lewis has more than 35 years' experience in the real estate investment sector and is the executive chair and co-chief investment officer of Tristan Capital Partners, a real estate investment manager he founded in 2009. The position is appointed by His Majesty The King under Royal Warrant, following recommendation by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister.

Phoebe Geake has been named UK lead for JLL's industrial and logistics team. Geake joined the firm in 2016 and has moved from its property and asset management team where she has undertaken a variety of roles, most recently as the co-head of the central London team. JLL said the team will expand its remit beyond traditional logistics under Geake's leadership to "embrace emerging sectors including advanced manufacturing and defence". She will focus on client-focused service delivery and innovative solutions that address the complex challenges facing the industrial and logistics sector. Mel Cross will continue as head of industrial and logistics brokerage.

Homes England has named Legal & General's head of Capital Investing, Simon Century, as its chief investment officer. Century has worked at L&G for the last nine years and started his current role in November, according to his LinkedIn profile. Before moving into that position he was managing director of housing for more than eight years. He is also a board member across multiple real estate businesses, including developer Bruntwood SciTech and retirement residential specialist Inspired Villages. He will take up his role at Homes England in September, replacing Marcus Ralling who was made interim CIO in February last year.

Global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer has hired Alison Hardy as the head of its Real Estate Dispute Resolution practice in London. Kramer will join from Ashurst, where she currently leads its Real Estate Dispute Resolution practice. The law firm said her practice spans all areas of commercial real estate disputes, including development issues, energy and infrastructure matters, investment disputes and distressed real estate. She has a particular focus on development disputes, property insolvency and joint venture disputes. Kramer is also a member of the British Property Federation's Insolvency Committee.